Острів доктора Моро

           Itwasasemi-circularspace,shapedlikethehalfofabee-hive;andagainsttherockywallthatformedtheinnersideofitwasapileofvariegatedfruits,cocoa-nutsamongothers.Someroughvesselsoflavaandwoodstoodaboutthefloor,andoneonaroughstool.Therewasnofire.Inthedarkestcornerofthehutsatashapelessmassofdarknessthatgrunted"Hey!"asIcamein,andmyApe-manstoodinthedimlightofthedoorwayandheldoutasplitcocoa-nuttomeasIcrawledintotheothercornerandsquatteddown.Itookit,andbegangnawingit,asserenelyaspossible,inspiteofacertaintrepidationandthenearlyintolerableclosenessoftheden.Thelittlepinksloth-creaturestoodintheapertureofthehut,andsomethingelsewithadrabfaceandbrighteyescamestaringoveritsshoulder.

           "Hey!"cameoutofthelumpofmysteryopposite."Itisaman."

           "Itisaman,"gabbledmyconductor,"aman,aman,afive-man,likeme."

           "Shutup!"saidthevoicefromthedark,andgrunted.Ignawedmycocoa-nutamidanimpressivestillness.

           Ipeeredhardintotheblackness,butcoulddistinguishnothing.

           "Itisaman,"thevoicerepeated."Hecomestolivewithus?"

           Itwasathickvoice,withsomethinginit—akindofwhistlingovertone—thatstruckmeaspeculiar;buttheEnglishaccentwasstrangelygood.

           TheApe-manlookedatmeasthoughheexpectedsomething.